OMAHA, Neb. - Friday's humbling 13-2 loss against top-seeded Texas seems like it set the Arkansas baseball program back months.

Sure, the Razorbacks (45-23) have had a successful season - reaching the College World Series for the first time since 1989 - but if they leave here without a win, it will be a disappointing end.

They face Arizona (35-26-1) at 1 p.m. today in an elimination game in Rosenblatt Stadium.

So during a 90-minute workout Saturday at Bellevue East High, just south of Omaha, they focused on basic fundamentals with an intense batting practice followed by some light base running.

"We went back to basics," said junior shortstop Scott Hode. "We went back to what got us here and kept it simple.

"We played a good team last night and we didn't play the best that we could, but it's over with.

"We never say die and we're a better comeback team anyway."

Saturday's practice reminded a few of where they started 10 months ago, a similar high school field at the Tyson Sports Complex, some 420 miles from here in Springdale.

They spent all fall there as Baum Stadium was undergoing renovations, switching to natural grass on the playing surface and adding some new skyboxes.

"It's kind of funny when you think about where we started," said junior third baseman Clay Goodwin. "A Springdale high school field and here we are in Rosenblatt (Stadium) playing.

"It's amazing, really."

The sweat spilled out in Springdale is where the never-say-die attitude was ingrained into all 31 players on roster as coaches pushed them to the absolute limit.

"That's the attitude we've got to have," Hode said. "Back in September, when we were out there at Springdale, that's where it started.

"Every practice it was, 'Let's go! Let's get going! We're on the road to Omaha!' and that would make us work as hard as we could.

"Now, we're here and it's time to make something happen."

There was a handful of media on hand and just four onlookers in the stands, so it was welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the usual CWS experience.

"It's great to get away from the big atmosphere for a little bit," said senior first baseman Haas Pratt. "To come out and just swing the bat, have fun screwing around a little bit and just start focusing in on Arizona.

"Just focus on baseball."

It's quite a change from the 22,487 fans, who crammed into Rosenblatt Stadium for Friday night's game or the 10,000-plus the Hogs played in front of while sweeping Florida State in the super regional at Baum Stadium.

"Think about this surrounding compared to what we've been playing in," said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn. "This kind of makes you realize that this is where you start. There's nobody in the stands, just a normal ballpark out in the middle of nowhere really."

Seeing another ballpark on the bus ride from downtown to Saturday's practice also was inspiring.

"We past three or four fields just side by side off the highway there," Van Horn said. "We saw some kids out there at 10:45 in the morning playing games and it just kind of makes you realize that you've come a long way as a player."

"I can remember doing that and I know the players do, too."

No field was needed for the Razorbacks to remember how resilient they've been to this point. They've lost consecutive games just three times and don't seem ready to end the season with a fourth double whammy.

"We've been here before, we've just got to get over it," Van Horn said. "I think they feel like they're going to win (today) and I think they've felt that way all year. Once we got to a certain point in the season where we got over the hump mentally, they started realizing that, 'Hey, we're not bad.'

"They feel like they can win. There's no doubt about that."

Practice in meager surroundings - the fence was any where from 15-20 feet shorter all the way around, resulting in a home run derby of sorts - also helped regain certitude in an unsure offense which was limited to two hits against Texas.

"We built a lot of confidence out here," Pratt said. "It was good for some guys to hit some long balls and just relax some.

"We haven't really got to relax since we got here."

Van Horn joked with the team earlier in the week that it would never have to practice at Springdale again since it made it to the College World Series.

But some players say it's important to remember those fall practices because that's what got them here.

"It is important," Goodwin said. "Just going back and reflecting on where we came from and how far we've come as a team and how much better we've gotten since then is really kind of neat.

"It's been a great year.

"But now we just want to get a win (today) and get on about a five-game winning streak, so we can stay around a little bit and have some fun."